Two Dickensian Christmas tales

It wouldn’t be Christmas without getting warm in front of the fire and taking in a seasonal story, and no author is more associated with the festive season than Charles Dickens. And we don’t just mean A Christmas Carol.

Following the critically acclaimed release of The Chimes in 2022, Big Finish Productions and Average Romp present two more full-cast adaptations of Christmas stories by the legendary author, this time The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man.

These two lesser-known stories haven’t been adapted for live-action film or television in the past century, so this audio adaptation is a rare opportunity to experience the stories, true to how Dickens told them but dramatised with a full cast and sound design.

Charles Dickens’ Christmas Stories: The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man will be released exclusively here in December 2026, and is now available to pre-order for just £11.99 (as a digital download to own).

The two stories in this release are:

The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens, adapted by Eddie Robson

A carrier called John Peerybingle fears his wife Dot may be unfaithful to him due to their age difference, an ill-matched wedding between the imperious factory owner Tackleton and the free-spirited May, and a talking cricket. 

The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain: A Fancy for Christmas-Time by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jonathan Morris

A tale about a scientist called Redlaw who is consumed by regret. Visited by a spirit in the form of his own shadow, he is given the chance to forget his troubles.

The Cricket on the Hearth has been adapted for audio by Eddie Robson (writer of Radio 4 sitcom Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully and various sketch shows) and stars Graham Fellows (known for his comedy character John Shuttleworth) as well as Bronté Barbé, Rosa Escoda, Jason Forbes, Geoff Leesley, Tony Marshall, and Katie Moore.

The Haunted Man is scripted by regular Big Finish writer Jonathan Morris and features the voices of Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, The Leftovers), Jeff Rawle (Drop the Dead Donkey), and Dan Starkey (Doctor Who), as well as Rosie Baker, Tim Speyer, Matthew Steer, and Tilly Vosburgh.

Producer and writer Jonathan Morris said: “We all know and love A Christmas Carol, but it was only the first of a run of Christmas stories by Charles Dickens, each one deliberately engineered to tug at the heartstrings and deliver a warm feeling of Christmassy-ness.

“So, following our critically acclaimed adaptation of The Chimes, we’ve brought two more of Dickens’ lesser-known tales to life as full-cast audio productions; the domestic comedy of The Cricket on the Hearth and the parable of conscience and guilt that is The Haunted Man. They will scare you, they will make you laugh, they may even make you cry, and they will certainly put you in the Christmas mood!”

Praise for the previous Dickens adaptation The Chimes:

“This lively dramatisation gives you exactly what you want and expect … Trotty is played by Toby Jones, brilliant as ever; indeed, every character is portrayed with verve and warmth.” – The Guardian

“This is a sleek production with a fantastic cast. It really is great listening.” – Audio Theatre Central

“The entire cast is spot on. Toby Jones brought humanity, warmth, and depth to Toby Veck. I now have another great addition to my Dickensian Christmas audio collection.” – Sci-Fi Pulse

Please note: The Haunted Man contains references to suicide and infant death.

Charles Dickens’ Christmas Stories: The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man will be released exclusively here in December 2026, and is now available to pre-order for just £11.99 (as a digital download to own).